Car-step.



c. u. WABEL.

CAR STEP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2|, me,

1 ,21 2,71 6. Patented J an. 16, 1917.

CHARLES D. WABEL, 0F HENRY, ILLINOIS. f

CAB-STEP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedJanJG, 1917.

Application filed April 21, 1916. Serial No. 92,695.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES D. WABEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Henry, in the county of Marshall, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Steps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same. r

This invention relates to car steps, aimingprimarily to provide means for enabling persons to easily ascend the car steps or alight from the car without the necessity of the employment of the nowgenerally used removable foot stool or step for this purpose.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding step arranged at the lower end of the fixed flight of steps'in' such manner that the same may be folded neatly and inconspieuously against the fixed bottom step and easily moved to extended or unfolded position through the medium of means operable from the car platform.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is of simple and inexpensive construction,

which may be readily applied to steps of cars now in use, which is composed of but few readily assembled parts, all so arranged as to preclude wear, breakage, orderangement of the same, and which will prove thoroughly durable and eflicient in practice.

With these objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings and particularly pointed out in the claim.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1, is a fragmentary end view of a conventional form of railway passenger coach, and illustrating a supplementary step embodying my invention, the step being shown in extended position, Fig. 2, is a similar view showing the step partially folded, Fig. 3, is a similar view showing the step completely folded, and Fig. 4, is a side elevation, partly in section, of the device in the position shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 5 indicates the platform of a passenger coach, from which the usual step flight 6 depends.

A supplementary step riser 7 is hingedly connected as at 8 along one of its longitudinal edges to the outermost edge of the lower step of the flight 6, the said riser being of a width corresponding to that of the rise portions of the steps 6, and being adaptedto swing or rock upon its hinge upwardly beneath the under surface of the lowermost of said fixed steps. The said supplemental rise is hinged inwardly from the extremity of the said lowermost step. so as to abut with the under surface of the latter when swung to a position at right angles-to the said step. A supplementary step 9 is hinged as at 10 along its rear edge to the free end of the supplementary riser '7, the said supplementary step'corresponding in width to the fixed steps of the flight, and being adapted to swing upon its hinge to fold upon the supplementary riser. It is thus seen that the supplementary step constituting the riser 7 and tread portion 9 may be folded or collapsed to lie close beneath the lowermost step of the flight 6, but may be swung downwardly therefrom to provide an extension for the said step flight.

A shaft 11 is journaled horizontally upon the lowermost of the fixed rise portions of the flight 6, arms 12 being fixed to the said shaft at the lateral ends thereof to depend from the medial portionof the said riser. The free ends of the arms 12 are turned outwardly to provide pivots or pintles 13 to eachof which is pivotally connected one end of a link 14:, the opposite end of each link being: pivoted as at 15 to the lateral edges of the supplementary step 9. A connecting rod 16 is pivoted at one end upon one of the pintles 13, and is pivoted at its opposite end as at 17 to one end of a step 1 actuating lever 18, the latter being pivoted intermediate its endsas at-19 to the car platform and is adapted to swing to fold or to extend the supplemental step as desired. A sector 20 may be arranged upon the platform 5, over which a suitable pawl upon the lever 18 may travel to lock the steps in either extended or contracted positions. The adjacent ends of the connecting rod 16 and link 14: are provided with cooperating stops or shoulders 21, which, when engaged, prevent the said elements from being moved in one direction out of parallel with each other.

It will be observed with particular reference to Fig. 1 that the weight of a person upon the supplementary step 9 will be borne bythe arms 12 and lever 18, the latter being held securely against rocking movement by the engagement of its pawl within a suitable notch in the sector 20. When it is desired to collapse or withdraw the supplementalstep, the lever 18 is rocked upon its pivot 19 outwardly of the car platform,

whereupon the connecting rod 16 will cause the arms 12 to rock rearwardly and to simultaneously draw inwardly upon the links 1 1.

The step 9 will fold upon its hinge 10 and lie fiat against the outer face of the hinged riser 7, and the latter, upon further outward movement of the lever 18, will be caused to rock inwardly upon its hinge 8 to lie close beneath the lowermost step of the flight 6.

It is thus seen that a neat and compact step is'provided, one in which the extending or collapsing operation is extremely simple, which provides ample support for all weights to which it may be subjected, and which will prove thoroughly efficient in the attainment of the ends for which it is designed.

While I have herein shown and described a particular or preferred embodiment of the Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing Washington, D. C3

invention, I do not wish to be limited to all arms on the extremities of said shaft, links connecting the lower ends of said arms and the forward covers of the foldable step, a second link extending rearwardly and upwardly from the connection between said arms and the first mentioned links, and

means to operate said second link to fold and unfold said step, the abutting ends of i said links being formed to lock the foldable step in open or folded position.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES D. WABEL. Witnesses:

WILLIAM STEELE, THOMAS J. WABEL.

the Commissioner of Patents, 

